LJLA to host unique race on its Runway to raise funds for Alder Hey Children's Charity!

THE runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport usually only has the rubber of aircraft tyres running along it, but on 1 night in May, it will be the rubber on the soles of the feet of around 400 runners from across the Region, that will be pounding along the runway, when the Airport becomes the location of a 5k charity run with a difference. The event is sponsored by Liverpool Airport Holidays and is being organised by employees at the Airport to help raise donations for its charity and corporate partner the Alder Hey Children's Charity through it's #LJLALoves Alder Hey campaign to help make Alder Hey Hospital a truly world class, patient-friendly Hospital for the 330,000 patients and families they care for every year. Because the Airport is busy for around 20 hours each day, the event is to be staged in the early hours of Friday, 8 May 2020, with runners lining up for the start, at 3.30am!

This will be the largest runway in the UK, at 2km in length, to be used for a charity run, with participants set to run the length of the runway and along the Taxiways that run parallel in order to complete the 5km course. The Airport is being granted special dispensation from the various regulatory Authorities in order to hold such an unusual event on its runway, with staff on hand to then return the areas back to operational use ahead of the 1st passenger departures, at 6am later that morning.  Liverpool John Lennon Airport has already raised more than ₤173,000 for Alder Hey since 2016 and with 400 runners expected to participate in this unique event, the Airport hopes to reach its ₤200k target raised towards #LJLALOVES Alder Hey.

To participate in the race there is a ₤25 registration fee and a minimum ₤50 sponsorship in which all proceeds will go to Alder Hey Children's Charity. To find out more runners should visit the dedicated page on the Airport's website. Whilst the event is all about having fun and helping to raise much needed funds for Alder Hey, there are some serious prizes for the winners, ranging from ₤2,000 worth of Liverpool Airport Holidays Vouchers, to gift hampers.

Ellie Freestone, Alder Hey Children's Charity Corporate Fundraiser said:- "We are incredibly grateful for the continued support by Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The Runway Run will be an amazing and unique event for both experienced and novice runners with the money raised going to fund the enhancement of waiting areas at the Hospital, so they are engaging and fun spaces our patients love to visit."

Carol Dutton, HR and Community Director at Liverpool John Lennon Airport added:- "The whole of the LJLA community is looking forward to this event. This will be our biggest fundraiser for Alder Hey so far and hopefully, our most successful one! As this will be the UK's longest runway to be used in a Runway Run this is a truly unique experience and a great way to raise money for charity! It is extremely important to us to support such a wonderful charity and we know that every penny raised goes towards helping patients and their families at Alder Hey Hospital every day. Good luck to everyone who takes part."

Ground condition surveys completed for new Merseyside bypass

DIGGING work to investigate ground conditions for the controversial A5036 Project to build a new bypass through Merseyside to the Port of Liverpool, has been completed according to Highways England. After recent flooding, as we reported last week, residents are getting increasingly worried about the project, that many do not want built. Despite the protests and objections, contractors working for Highways England have filled in around 40 small trenches and bore holes, that had been made in Rimrose Valley park and surrounding farmland. The holes we are told were used to examine a potential new route to take traffic away from the existing A5036 and now work is underway to remove tracks and other marks on the land, that have been left by the digging equipment during the recent stormy weather. Highways England's Press Office also added that:- "The Work to investigate air quality, noise levels and wildlife will continue to take place over the next few months, and a public consultation on the preliminary scheme design for the bypass is due to be held later on in 2020."

Dan Healey, A5036 Project Manager at Highways England, said:- "We'd like to thank people for their patience while we've been carrying out digging work in Rimrose Valley, and we will return the park to its previous condition in time for the spring. We'll continue to carry out other surveys in Rimrose Valley and along the existing route of the A5036 but these should have little impact on the public as we won't be using any construction equipment. We'll be holding a formal consultation later in the year once we have a preliminary design for the bypass, and are keen to hear feedback from everyone affected by the scheme."

The Port of Liverpool is already the busiest port in the North West and the amount of freight travelling through it is expected to grow significantly over the next few years, due to BREXIT. The proposed bypass through a section of Rimrose Valley park is expected to connect Princess Way at the Port of Liverpool to the motorway network at Switch Island.

Highways England have told us that the proposed new 3 mile dual carriageway would take traffic away from communities by Church Road and Dunnings Bridge Road, reducing congestion and making journeys quicker and safer for residents and drivers. They have highlighted that currently around 23,000 vehicles currently use the A5036 every day, passing hundreds of homes and several Schools, that are located in Litherland and Netherton. They include around 2,500 HGVs travelling to and from the Port, that is equivalent to one lorry joining the A5036 every 30 seconds.

A Development Consent Order application seeking permission to build the road will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate following the public consultation. If the scheme is approved then construction work could start by the end of 2022. More details on the proposals for the new A5036 bypass to the Port of Liverpool can be located on the Highways England website.